Does new X() return a pointer or not?

[faissaloo via Digitalmars-d-learn]

I have the following function

        static Component* constructComponent(int value) {
                return (new ComponentChild(value));
        }
ComponentChild is a derived class of Component.
However, I get told that ComponentChild cannot be converted to 
Component*. I'm confused here, does new return a heap pointer or 
not? Are objects automatically assumed to be pointers?